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Will Jackson

Published: Saturday, August 22, 2009 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, August 21, 2009 at 11:40 a.m.

Dog groomer by day, snake handler by night.

Facts

About the series

Will Jackson is a part of the Class of 2022 project. The StarNews will be following him and 11 other area students from kindergarten through high school graduation, to see through their eyes what it's like growing up in Southeastern North Carolina during changing times.

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“I want to live at the serpentarium, so I can come around and feed the snakes,” Will said.

Will's mom, Carrie Jackson, describes him as bright and active, with a big imagination and a strong verbal streak.

“He started talking all at once at 18 months old and never stopped,” Jackson said.

Watching TV is boring for Will - too much holding still. He prefers to catch slugs in the backyard and give them rides on his model train, or pore over his reptile books. The 5-year-old can tell you the snake with the fastest bite in the world (gaboon viper), and all about the albino alligator he saw at the aquarium.

“About the only things he doesn't like are green vegetables,” Jackson said.

Armed with four boxes of crayons, two packs of glue sticks and a new backpack, Will isn't worried about the first day of school. His mom doesn't have any specific concerns with his elementary school, but is alarmed by the trend toward cutting arts education funding.

“It's essential for kids to have a creative outlet, or other things will suffer,” Jackson said. “What I dread is seeing Will stuck in a school system where he's bored or frustrated because he's learning by rote.”

Jackson is happy that Will prefers pythons to Playstations, but says she'll be happy with whatever career path he eventually chooses.

“I want him to find something he loves to do and do it,” Jackson said. “That's all that matters.”

<p>Dog groomer by day, snake handler by night.</p><p>Will Jackson has his life all planned out.</p><p>“I want to live at the serpentarium, so I can come around and feed the snakes,” Will said.</p><p>Will's mom, Carrie Jackson, describes him as bright and active, with a big imagination and a strong verbal streak.</p><p>“He started talking all at once at 18 months old and never stopped,” Jackson said.</p><p>Watching TV is boring for Will - too much holding still. He prefers to catch slugs in the backyard and give them rides on his model train, or pore over his reptile books. The 5-year-old can tell you the snake with the fastest bite in the world (gaboon viper), and all about the albino alligator he saw at the aquarium.</p><p>“About the only things he doesn't like are green vegetables,” Jackson said.</p><p>Armed with four boxes of crayons, two packs of glue sticks and a new backpack, Will isn't worried about the first day of school. His mom doesn't have any specific concerns with his elementary school, but is alarmed by the trend toward cutting arts education funding.</p><p>“It's essential for kids to have a creative outlet, or other things will suffer,” Jackson said. “What I dread is seeing Will stuck in a school system where he's bored or frustrated because he's learning by rote.”</p><p>Jackson is happy that Will prefers pythons to Playstations, but says she'll be happy with whatever career path he eventually chooses.</p><p>“I want him to find something he loves to do and do it,” Jackson said. “That's all that matters.”</p>